Outhne: Inferno Xxxi

simile: Virgil’s tongue, Achilles’ lance

leaving Malebolge: the horn in the gloom (Roland)

Satan’s “walled city”: Dante’s misperception

Virgil: soon you will see the cause of your error; let me tell you now: those are giants, not towers

simile: lifting mist

simile: Monteriggione

the first giant (Nimrod)

digression: nature’s benevolent cessation

Nimrod’s bulk, face to belly

Nimrod’s words

Virgil’s response: blow your horn

Virgil: Nimrod and the confusion of tongues

Ephialtes in chains

Virgil: Ephialtes and the assault on Olympus

Dante: and where is Briareus?

Virgil: unbound Antaeus is next; Briareus further on

Ephialtes shakes with rage; Dante’s fear

arrival before Antaeus

Virgil’s captatio of Antaeus: his prowess; do not make us proceed to Tityus or Typhon

Antaeus holding Virgil holding Dante

simile: the Garisenda tower of Bologna

Dante, fearful but safe, arrives on floor of hell

comparison: Antaeus as raised mast of ship